AHA Leadership Awards

List of Recent AHA Leadership Awards Recipients

Distinguished Service Award
The Association may grant the Distinguished Service Award to recognize significant lifetime contributions and service to health care institutions and associations.

1. The recipient shall be an individual whose lifetime achievements in the hospital or health fields have provided national leadership in health care delivery and service.

2. In selecting the recipient, primary consideration shall be given to individuals who contributed extensively directly or indirectly to:

a. Welfare of hospital patients and the community
b. Health care delivery practices and structure
c. Organizations in the health care field

Justin Ford Kimball Innovators Award
The Association may grant a Justin Ford Kimball Innovators Award to individuals or organizations to recognize outstanding, innovative contributions to health care financing and/or delivery that improve access or coordination of care.

1. The person or organization considered for the Justin Ford Kimball Innovators Award shall have developed or introduced an influential, innovative approach to health care financing and/or health care delivery to improve access or coordination of care.

2. Innovations may be in either the public or private sector delivery and payment system.

3. Individuals may have a primary occupation either within or without the health field.

Award of Honor
The Association may grant the Award of Honor to individuals, organizations, or groups to recognize an exemplary contribution to the health and well being of the people through leadership on a major health policy or social initiative.

1. The person or organization considered for the Award of Honor shall have made or be making a truly outstanding contribution through an initiative to improve the health status of individuals, targeted groups, communities, or the nation.

2. The individual may have a primary occupation either within or without the health field; the organization may be either within or without the health field.

Board of Trustees Awards
The Association may confer the Board of Trustees Award on individuals or groups who have made substantial and noteworthy contributions to the work of the American Hospital Association.

1. Persons or groups considered for the Board of Trustees Award shall have made outstanding contributions to the policy development and/or programs of the Association itself, as opposed to contributions to the hospital and/or health field.

2. The individual may have a primary occupation either within or without the health field. The group may be either within or without the health field.

Honorary Life Membership
The Association may confer Honorary Life Membership on individuals to recognize outstanding contributions to the hospital field and health care by those outside the field of health care administration. The persons considered for Honorary Life Membership shall share interests and goals of the American Hospital Association and its members and have made outstanding contributions to the health care field and the health care of the people. Their careers shall not be directly in health care administration.

More information on the AHA Leadership Awards can be obtained from the AHA Governance at governance@aha.org.